Rainbow City police arrest man in connection with Sonic theft

Thursday

Jul 26, 2007 at 12:01 AM

By Mo JacksonTimes Staff Writer

RAINBOW CITY - Police foiled an 18-year-old man's attempt last week to steal $620 from the Sonic restaurant.Rainbow City detective Chase Jenkins said Levar Cattling, of 803 Fourth St. N.W., was charged with second-degree theft in connection with the Thursday night incident.Jenkins said the money was in a deposit bag in a locked drawer.He said Cattling allegedly waited until the shift manager was outside the building, then broke into the drawer."Somehow or another, he was able to open the lock," Jenkins said during an interview.Jenkins said Cattling then hid the money in bushes behind the store.The theft happened around midnight, he said.The manager returned, discovered the money missing and began questioning employees who were cleaning up and closing the restaurant.Jenkins said Sgt. Cody Owens found the money in the bushes, but only told officers, who still were questioning employees on the scene.Owens and officers Matt Preuninger and Gerry Lyons parked their squad cars nearby and waited in the wooded area behind Sonic for someone to retrieve the money.Cattling allegedly was discovered looking around in the area where the money had been, Jenkins said.Jenkins said Cattling gave police an excuse as to why he was there.Jenkins said after being told that he was seen hiding the money on surveillance tape, Cattling confessed Friday to trying to steal the money.Jenkins said this is the fifth incident - felony theft or robbery - at the Rainbow Drive restaurant this year.

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